What is a 'MacGuffin' in literature and film?
- A tragic flaw in the protagonist's character
- An object or device that drives the plot but whose specific nature is unimportant
- A sudden, unexpected reversal of fortune
- A narrator who is secretly the villain
Answer: An object or device that drives the plot but whose specific nature is unimportant
A MacGuffin is a term popularized by Alfred Hitchcock. It is an object, goal, or motivator that the characters care about, but the audience doesn't need to know the specifics of.